Yorkshire law firms merge 
to cover A1 to the coast

The move will combine the Wetherby firm’s specialisms in employment law, commercial matters, financial advice and personal injury with the Malton practice’s strength in rural matters, property, probate, wills, family law and dispute resolution.

The Ryedale firm will continue to trade as Pearsons & Ward from its current premises.

Peter Kay, senior director at Ware & Kay, which employs a team of 66 across its two offices, said the two firms were very similar in terms of their culture.

“The strategy behind the merger is to provide a greater geographical coverage for the whole firm, across the spine of the A64 from the A1 to the coast,” he said.

“It gives us an enhanced capability in terms of the overall breadth of our offering but also a greater ability to specialise in some areas where we currently are not proven in having specialist expertise, for example in the agricultural sector.

“On the other hand, Pearsons & Ward will have a greater breadth of offering for their clients in respect of commercial property and employment work. It’s overall a win-win.”

The merger is the second in two years for Ware & Kay, following a deal with York firm Sykes Lee & Brydson in 2013, which saw Ware & Kay take on 13 of the other firm’s staff.